HOMER — It has been 10 years in the making. But for Banks County softball coach Kelby Cronic, it has been worth the toil, sweat, and most definitely, he hopes, the wait.
As the 2019 regular season winds down, Cronic and the Lady Leopards find themselves in a position not usually reserved for small northeast Georgia programs: being the hunted.
They finished third in the state in 2017 and as state runner-up in 2018, both times in Class 2A. Banks County (21-3, 7-0 Region 8-2A) currently sits No. 2 in the MaxPreps Class 2A rankings, is 13th in Georgia in all-classifications, and 41st in the entire nation. The 21 wins are setting the bar in Class 2A so far.
In fact, only Class 7A’s North Forsyth (23) has more wins in the state than the Lady Leopards. Locust Grove (Class 5A) and Wesleyan (Class A) are tied with Banks County with 21 wins each.
They know they are being watched. They are more than fine with it.
“These girls have been playing together for a long time. They have worked hard to get to where they are. They also know they are one of a few teams with targets on their backs,” Cronic said. “But I think they like it that way. They seem to play better in the bigger games. You work to get to this point as a player and I think they have done a good job of handling things.”
However, with a team consisting of seven starting seniors -- Tybee Denton, Kya Santiago, Jill Martinet, Mykayla Benfield, Brookely Lewis, Jewels Ayers, Chelsea Lewallen -- Cronic also knows that the time is now, and running out, for a group that has put the Lady Leopards on the softball map, perhaps permanently.
“They have been near the top the last couple of years. I felt we had a great chance last year to win (a state title),” Cronic said. “Is it championship or bust for us this year?”
After a pause, “Sure, it probably is,” he said. “Just because we know the talent we have and what they are capable of.”
The Lady Leopards head into Saturday’s regular-season finale against another highly-ranked area team in East Hall. The Lady Vikings are 15-5, 9-0 in Region 7-3A and ranked third in Class 3A and 32nd in Georgia. The two teams met early in the season with Banks County snagging a 3-2, walk-off victory.
First pitch for Saturday’s matchup is scheduled for 11 a.m. at East Hall Park.
With a three-year run of excellence still underway, it’s no secret as to what, and who has been driving the train for the Lady Leopards. Hurler Denton, a University of North Georgia-commit, has set school records in wins and strikeouts, recently reaching 1,000 for her career.
In 2019, Denton and the defense have allowed just 22 runs (0.91 runs a game), with only 11 of those earned. Meanwhile, the offense has averaged 7.0 rpg behind a group that has power -- eight of the nine regulars have hit home runs -- but also can play small-ball in tight games.
They are 3-2 in one-run games. Their three losses have come to No. 6 Grayson in 7A, No. 9 Locust Grove in 5A, and No. 10 Eastside in 4A.
However, it’s a 9-1 loss to fellow Region 8-2A foe Social Circle in last year’s state championship game that may have had the biggest impact on the 2019 squad.
“I think the senior experience we have is a big part of our success,” Cronic said. “Most of these girls have been playing at the varsity level since they were freshmen. They’ve gotten better each year.
“But I think the biggest thing is that they are self-motivators. They’ve gotten to Columbus twice and they know what it takes to get there. That championship game -- for the girls here this year that were on that team -- really left a bad taste in their mouths. I think that’s why for this group there is a high goal in mind at the end.”
However, even if the Lady Leopards once again find the sledding difficult in Columbus, Cronic thinks it also could be just the early stages of a run of excellence for years to come.
“It’s hard to get to Columbus but once you get there, really anything can happen,” Cronic said. “We’ve experienced that the last couple of years. We felt we had a team that was capable of (winning it) last year but we didn’t hit the ball the way we had been when we needed to the most. The atmosphere down there is totally different.
“I think we have a great chance again this year to win all. But you never know what can happen. We’ve been blessed to have a great group of talented athletes on this team the last few seasons.
“But the future looks really good as well. We have eight freshmen who are getting some playing time here and there. If we can get back to Columbus and put together something special, then the younger girls can see what it takes and hopefully take that with them next year and beyond.
“I definitely feel this thing is sustainable. We still have the region tournament and the playoffs so we have to stay focused. But if the girls play the way I think they’re capable, I don’t think they can be beat when they’re at their best.”
